BCI chairman heckled by lawyers

Bhubaneswar, Apr 22 (PTI) Bar Council of India (BCI) chairman Manan Kumar Mishra was heckled and prevented from speaking by participants at the National Convention of Lawyers here.

Lawyers from different states attending the convention, which has been organised to discuss Law Commission of Indias proposal to Amendment of Advocates Act, 1961, vehemently opposed Mishra from addressing the gathering.

Though Mishra was seen saying something, he was unable to make his point in the din and was escorted out of the meeting in order to pacify the agitating lawyers.

The Odisha State Bar Council, which organised the convention, and other bar associations of the country are against the Advocates? (Amendment) Bill, 2017 as the members claim that it would destroy the independence and autonomy of the Indian Bar completely.

Mishra later told reporters "Bar Council of India will never allow any kind of hooliganism."

There was no point in agaitate as Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad had clearly said that the government would not implement the Commission?s recommendation, he added.

Prasad had assured BCI that any amendment to the Advocates Act would be made after consulting the Council and other lawyers bodies. Following it BCI had called off its proposed nationwide protest from May 2.

Mishra had met Prasad in Delhi yesterday after lawyers across the country protested against the Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2017. The lawyers had burnt copies of the Law Commission report which suggests bar on advocates from holding agitations and make them liable to compensate litigants if they go on strike.